Nightmare on Temple Mount

A disaster in the making.

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem (holiest spot on earth for Jews and ranking up there in sanctity also for Christians and Muslims) may soon come partly crashing down.

Despite appearances, the 35-acre Temple Mount plateau is not a natural formation but a man-made esplanade built centuries ago by stacking one large brick-like rock atop another.

The wall on one side might cave in due to the fact that the Palestinian Authority (PA) has had administrative control over the Temple Mount since the mid-1990s and since then has made many structural changes, all aimed at increasing Muslim claims to the site.

In particular, the PA converted a long-disused space at the southern end, known as Solomon's Stables, into a mosque. In the process, it took down some supports. These alterations weakened the southern wall; an area 227 square yards of the wall now bulges out as much as 28 inches.

The PA professes no concern. "This bulge is under our monitoring since the '70s and has neither grown nor shifted in 30 years," says Adnan Husseini, director of the Islamic religious authority (the waqf) that oversees the Temple Mount. "It is stable, we don't feel that there is any dangerous situation."

Knowledgeable Israelis beg to differ. Back in 2001, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) warned that if not treated, the bulge would cause the Temple Mount "irreversible damage."

Today, their warnings are alarmed. That wall is "in danger of collapse," says Shuka Dorfman, head of the IAA.

"It could collapse," says Jerusalem's Mayor Ehud Olmert.

It "will collapse," warns Eilat Mazar, an archaeologist at Hebrew University. "The central issue at present is whether it will collapse on the heads of thousands of people who are praying there, or whether it will be done in a controlled manner."

The moment of truth might come in November. That's the Ramadan holiday, when thousands of Muslim worshipers will aggregate in the mosque at Solomon's Stables. Their weight and movement could cause the southern wall to give way, causing yard-long rocks to come cascading down on them, possibly killing many.

Judging by prior incidents in Jerusalem -- the arson at Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969, the opening of a tunnel in 1996-- this disaster would lead at least to wide-scale fighting in Jerusalem and a heated international crisis. If things really went wrong, it could precipitate a wave of violence in Europe and a full-blown Arab-Israeli war.

It could also complicate the war on Iraq, obstruct the war on terrorism and jump the price of oil and gas. At worst, it could unleash an end-of-days messianism in three monotheistic religions, with unforeseeable consequences.

The structural integrity of this ancient wall is, in short, very serious business.

The government of Israel must finally assert its full sovereignty over the area.

And yet successive Israeli governments, both Labor and Likud, have abdicated their role, turning a deaf ear to the increasingly anxious predictions.

Their insouciance has two main causes. First, memories of 1969 and 1996 are enough to make any Israeli leader want to stay away from Jerusalem holy places.

Second, it is a well-established tradition that the governing authority in Jerusalem -- Ottoman, British, Jordanian, Israeli -- endorses the status quo, permits precedent to have sway and stays out of the city's many and hugely intractable religious disputes.

Thus, when Israel captured the Temple Mount in 1967, it permitted the Waqf to remain in charge there. The PA has exploited that deference of 35 years ago to increase Muslim claims to the Temple Mount, notably by building the new mosque at Solomon's Stables. That the Waqf denies any structural problems means the Israeli authorities just tiptoe away.

But they cannot afford to any longer. At issue is not some squabble over who gets to sweep which church step or who gets which hours in a sanctuary; this is a disaster in the making.

As the Jerusalem Post correctly editorializes, that the government of Israel has abdicated its responsibilities is "nothing less than scandalous," and it must now "finally assert its full sovereignty over the area."

Governments around the world, Jewish organizations and others with influence over the Israeli prime minister should get him to attend to the wall before it and much else crashes.

Visitor Comments: 4

Danie Pipes, you say that the collaps of the Temple Mount due to structural damage could cause full scale violence between Palestinians and Israelis in the following paragraph.

"Judging by prior incidents in Jerusalem -- the arson at Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969, the opening of a tunnel in 1996-- this disaster would lead at least to wide-scale fighting in Jerusalem and a heated international crisis. If things really went wrong, it could precipitate a wave of violence in Europe and a full-blown Arab-Israeli war."

The 2 incidents you site were perpetrated by purposeful human activity, but such a collapse would not be purposeful, though it could be construed to be caused by humans. However, the human activity was not done to harm others or to be presumptive (as was the opening of the tunnel in 1996). I would like to understand how you went from the collapse of the Temple Mount to war.

Thank you.

(3)
Anonymous,
September 11, 2002 12:00 AM

A gift from Hashem or a sign of anger?

If there is a G-d then perhaps it is Hashem that will bring the muslim abonimation on what was once the Jewish holy site crashing to the ground. If it truly is Hashems will, then no matter what action or inaction we take, the outcome will be the same. Can man fight Hashems will to 'save the wall'? Perhaps we should pray that the Mosque will fall with the wall and then rejoice, for if there is a G-d, once this destruction is complete, the site will be ready for the third Jewish temple and the coming of the moshiach will be but one step closer.

Jews are no longer permitted to visit G-ds holy temple mount for prayer. What punishment might we face for imposing this travesty on our own people in the very face of Hashem? Perhaps every G-d fearing Jew should pray that Hashem will forgive us and hasten the final blow that reduces the Mosques occupying Abrahams sacred sacrificial site to rubble. On the other hand, perhaps you would rather believe that there is no G-d and as the arabs would like us to think, that there was never a Jewish temple on this site and that this place has always been the true home of muhammed and his squad of suicide bombers.

(2)
Eric,
September 11, 2002 12:00 AM

Temple Mount wall and what it might mean

If the Arabs wanted 'another' reason to justify their murderous behavior toward the Jews, they will, themselves, bring down the wall, then blame the Jews somehow. It would fit right in with how things have been going so far. It's time Jews take command and act like the lion of Judah instead of the lamb of sacrifice.

(1)
Jeff Pomykala,
September 9, 2002 12:00 AM

International intervention

I'm not sure why Mr. Pipes feels the need to place blame for "inaction" on the part of the Israeli government. Don't the Arabs claim that the current intifada was, in part, sparked by Ariel Sharon's claiming his right to go to the Temple Mount to worship? If one man visiting the Temple Mount is what (allegedly) sparked this current inifada, just what do you think would happen if Israel took over that section of the mount, now associated with a mosque, to "fix" the wall??
The ONLY way to get this corrected without bloodshed is to get an internationally (U.N.) sponsored group of engineers, unassociated with Muslims or Israel, in to fix the wall.
Anything short of this will surely bring about bloodshed and a renewed cry for Jihad against Israel by the increasingly irrational and belligerant Arab people and their misguided sense of "honor". ~~ never mind the fact that it's their own incompetence at engineering, and their attempts to solidify their "claim" to the mount (as well as to remove any archeological evidence for an ancient Jewish presence) that brought about this problem in the first place....
May there be true peace in Israel--soon.

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I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...